Isola Riva - Forster

Every dish we tried, from the appetizers to the mains and desserts, was exceptional. My in-laws, who are seasoned oyster lovers, declared the Wallis Lake oysters to be the best they've ever tasted. The shared plates were consistently excellent, featuring an impressive selection of fresh local seafood. The Balmain Bugs were juicy and cooked to perfection, and the split king prawns were equally delightful. The red spot whiting fritti was lightly battered and fried, enhancing its delicate flavor. Overall, this dining experience deserves five stars, and we can't wait to return. I highly recommend you visit this outstanding local establishment; they truly deserve your support and appreciation. Don't miss out on this gem! Parking is convenient, with plenty of spots available right outside the entrance, including three designated disabled spaces. The venue is also wheelchair accessible, making it easy to roll in across the almost flat pathway straight through the front door.

We dined at the restaurant last Saturday night and ordered the seafood platter. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, with the bugs cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, the prawns were overcooked. On a positive note, the staff were fantastic and very attentive. Food: 4/5, Service: 5/5, Atmosphere: 4/5.

While the waitress and the food were excellent, the overall experience was somewhat disappointing. We arrived 30 minutes early, hoping to avoid holiday traffic and rain, but were promptly told to return at half past, despite there being plenty of available tables both outside and inside that we could have been directed to. Additionally, one member of our party was unwell, and we were still charged $50 for their absence. This may align with the restaurant's policy, but it still felt a bit unfair. Overall, while the service and food were commendable, the customer experience left something to be desired.

Very ordinary food for the price. The customer service was also very poor. We ordered hot chocolates at the end of our meal they were barely warm and barely tasted of chocolate. There was no apology or even acknowledgement from the staff when we politely let them know. At a minimum, I would have expected this to be removed from the bill. $20 for 4 awful hot chocolates. That was our first experience. We decided to give them a second chance when they moved to their temporary location by the beach. We asked to sit outside as we had our dog with us, and were told that dogs weren’t allowed on the patio. Fair enough, but when we asked why the table next to us were allowed to sit with their two (large) dogs, we were told that they just ignored the direction, yet still would not allow our dog (small cavoodle). The rule I don’t mind, it was the double standard and the attitude that were unacceptable. We walked away and won’t be returning.

3 stars because the food and drinks weren’t a total disappointment, very sneaky with how we we’re charged. I won’t be going back.